April is a good time to prepare yourself for the upcoming season. As it looks right now, most walleye waters in Northeast Wisconsin should be in excellent shape for the opener. The single deciding factor as to where to go will be how early spring arrives. If the ice goes out early, large females may be tough to come by at the opener. However, the longer the ice remains on the lakes, the greater your odds are for running into big, pre-spawn females. Here again, fishermen should be checking their favorite lake in April, to monitor the conditions.

One good bet for early-season walleye action would be Caldron Falls Flowage in Marinette County. Much attention is given to High Falls Flowage to the south. Currently, I feel there is a slightly higher walleye population in Caldron Falls than in High Falls. Cladron Falls Flowage is the first flowage on the Peshtigo River. Caldron Falls has 1,400 surface acres with a maximum depth of 40 feet. The bottom is a combination of muck, sand, marl and gravel. Weeds are present, with cabbage and coontail being the most common. Throughout most of Caldron Falls, the weeds will grow down to eight feet. Shoreline cover is also abundant, along with an endless number of small bays. Offshore structure is at a premium, unlike High Falls just to the south.

In recent years, walleye have also played an important part of the fishery. Past stockings have increased the number of spawning fish. There is a fine population of walleyes between 15 and 21 inches. Along with a meal, there is a chance of running into a 10-pound plus walleye. This is truly a sleeper lake for big walleyes. An early ice-out should mean excellent fishing on Caldron Falls for the opener. Most of the walleyes will spawn upriver, so by the opener, look for the best action to occur at the mouth of the river. Any shallow bay with signs of fresh weeds will be the center of activity. Use either a jig and minnow combination or a jig and twister tail. With the water being dark, work your baits a bit faster. Shoreline wood in the 10-foot depths can also hold a few walleye. When working the wood on Caldron Falls, look for signs of active baitfish.

One often-overlooked early-season walleye lake is Lake Metonga in Forest County. In recent years, the walleye population has come back strong. This has happened both due to natural reproduction and stockings. Lake Metonga is a 2,157-acre lake with a maximum depth of 79 feet located just south of Crandon. There are three landings, one on the north end of the lake within the city of Crandon, one on the east end of the lake on East Shore Drive, and one at the Forest County Veterans Memorial Park on the south end. All are good landings, however the ones on the north and south end have ample parking. The water is clear, with the bottom consisting mainly of gravel and sand with some rock and muck. In recent years, weeds have become scarce due to rusty crayfish, with bulrushes being the most prevalent. There are a few isolated patches of milfoil and lily pads.

Fishermen could experience pre-spawn walleyes if spring arrives late. However, expect to find walleye in the post-spawn stage. When looking for post-spawn walleye, start by working the offshore structure. The two humps, which top off at 20 to 25 feet on the north end of the lake, can hold a few fish. On the east end of the lake there is a 15-foot hump just out from the boat landing which offers consistent action. Light line and small jigs are a must on these post-spawn fish. I have had my best success with 1/16 or 1/8-ounce plain unpainted or black leadhead jigs fished with four or six-pound clear line. Long casts are a must, so you don’t spook the fish. I like a long 7-foot rod like a Lamiglas GBLS 72. Both fatheads and shiners can be used with your jigs. Use your locator to find walleye, and position your boat with the trolling motor. Putting out an anchor can spook the school.

For fishermen looking to fish a smaller lake on opening day, a good bet would be Boot Lake in Oconto County. Boot Lake is located five miles west of Lakewood on Archibald Lake Road. Access is available at an improved site, which is located within the Nicolet National Forest Campground on the northwest corner of the lake. The 235-acre lake has a maximum depth of 38 feet, with a bottom content of sand, muck, rubble and gravel. Although a relatively small lake, a quality walleye fishery exists, but they do not attain trophy size. In the spring, concentrate your efforts on the southeast corner. Besides the small islands, there are a few sunken islands that top off between three and five feet. The shoreline itself has ample rubble and some gravel. With structure being limited, any downed wood will also attract spring walleye. Working the wood with either small jigs or slip bobbers should yield a few walleye. If fishing gets tough, fish after dark.

For those who like to fish rivers, there is always the Menominee River. The only problem when fishing the Menominee River is deciding where to fish. Often it is hard to pick one section of the river over another. My best advice here is to be mobile until you connect with active fish. I have experienced slow fishing on one section of the river and had hot action a few miles down stream.

If you are looking for fast action it is hard to beat the Menominee River in Marinette. Each year, anglers are catching more walleyes and bigger fish are becoming more common. This is one place where even the first-time angler will feel like a pro. One consistent area for pre-spawn walleye is the turn basin out from Ansul. Use your electronics to mark walleyes and position yourself over the school. Vertical jigging is the most productive method. If you are looking for big walleyes, try some deep trolling. Special early season regulations apply. You are allowed to keep one walleye over 15 inches until May 6, when the limit is five.

These are just a few places that should be in prime shape for early-season walleye action. If you have any more questions about the lakes, go to my web site and post them on my Fishing Reports and Tips message board and I will be happy to answer them.